Conquering the Clutter Before the Spring Selling Season

If you plan to put your home on the market this spring, one of the first steps you should take is corralling the clutter and getting your home organized. There’s a lot to do before the for-sale sign goes up, and spring will be here before you know it, so why not start the process after the holidays. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Sort through decorations. Make the dreaded annual ritual of taking down decorations more productive by using it to begin decluttering. Before stuffing all your decorations back into plastic bins, take stock of everything you have – lights, wreaths, figurines – then toss items that don’t work and donate decorations you no longer use. In the end, you’ll likely have fewer containers to stow, freeing up space in storage areas.

Get one, donate two. For each gift received – an article of clothing, toy or gadget – donate or get rid of two counterparts. As you put away new possessions, take a little extra time to scour closets and bookcases and weed out worn-out items or those your kids have outgrown. Whether you donate, sell or throw them out, you’ll be making progress toward preparing your house for the spring market.

Depersonalize your home. Once you finish your post-holiday decluttering, it’s time to do a sweep of tables, dressers, shelves and the mantle to clear out personal items such as knickknacks and family photos. The goal is to make buyers feel like your home could potentially become theirs.

Scale down furniture. Nearly every home shows better with less furniture, so remove excess or older furniture to make your home look more spacious. While you might think rooms look empty, it will enable buyers to envision their own furnishings and belongings in the same space.

Rent a storage unit. Once you’ve cut the clutter, consider renting a storage unit for the furniture and other things you’ve removed. That way, you won’t have to store them in your basement or garage when it comes time to stage and show your home. And here’s an added bonus: Taking care of this now means you’ll have one less chore to do when it’s time to move!

If you are considering listing your property this spring, contact a Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage independent agent today or visit ColdwellBankerHomes.com. A Coldwell Banker® affiliated agent can provide guidance and advice as you prepare to sell your home.

A 23-year veteran Realtor, Chris Jensen is president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Utah. In his role, he oversees the company's 11 offices and more than 700 sales associates serving the communities of the greater Wasatch Front.